Tuberculosis in Wales The Report of the Committee of Enquiry
into Anti-tuber- culosis Service in Wales and Monmouthshire is a distressing and alarming document, most of all for Welshmen, who are apt to pride themselves on their ability for administering their own affairs. The seriousness of the problem considered by the report is shown by the excessive mortality rate from tuberculosis in Wales, especially because it occurs in the age groups 15-25 and 26-45. In addition, " for many years the crude mortality rates from tuberculosis in seven Welsh counties have exceeded those for all other counties in Eng- land and Wales." The cause, according to the committee, is to be found in inadequate preventive services, and more especially in appalling housing conditions ; it refers to over- crowding " worse than anything one can find in the native quarters of Shanghai," to houses—which " baffle description," and anyone who knows the districts concerned will not find such phrases exaggerated. No doubt the explanation lies largely in poverty, but this makes all. the more disgraceful the failure of local authorities to make adequate use of the resources and powers they can command. The Report asserts that " they have fallen far short of their duties and obligations. We find that they have had insufficient regard for their powers or their duties or the advice which was tendered them by their officers." Such condemnation de- mands that immediate action be taken to correct this shameful neglect of duty.
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